Las Cruces student raising money for Cuba trip

New America Charter School high school sophomore William Horner, 16, reviews essays he wrote on the pros and cons of the Cuban trade embargo. Horner is one of several New Mexico students who have been invited to visit Cuba for ten days in March 2016 after entering an essay contest sponsored by the New Mexico Human Rights Projects.(Photo: Jett Loe / Sun-News)Buy Photo

LAS CRUCES - In a year and half at New America School – Las Cruces, William Horner has made a lot of friends. And that’s fortunate — because they have been eager to help the 16-year-old sophomore raise money for his upcoming trip to Cuba.

William is one of 10 New Mexico students invited to participate in a 10-day trip to the island country in March 2016. William’s essay, expressing his views on the Cuban trade embargo, earned him the opportunity to visit Cuba next spring on a trip organized by the Albuquerque-based New Mexico Human Rights Projects, which sponsored the contest.

The contest required William to write two letters to his representatives in Congress — one in favor of lifting the trade embargo and another in support of leaving it in place.

William and Erica Olivas, a fellow sophomore, were both invited to be part of the New Mexico delegation. However, Olivas, 31, had to bow out of the trip due to responsibilities at home.

The New America School is a public charter high school designed to serve recent immigrants, their families and children who want to learn or perfect English and earn a high school diploma. The school serves students, ages 14 and up, and many of its students are older than traditional high school students — students who have opted to go back to school to complete their diploma rather than take a high-school equivalency exam.

On the embargo

Before writing his essay, William said he knew very little about Cuba.

“I knew that Cuba was ruled by a dictatorship, and that it was a Communist state, but I really didn’t know about the embargo,” he said. “In the letter supporting lifting the embargo, I argued that it will help the Cuban people get what they need — like better cars. When it comes to cars, the people of Cuba are pretty much trapped in the 1950s. All of those cars are old, and they’re polluting the air.”

In his letter arguing against lifting the embargo, William stated that the Castro regime should be punished for the expropriation of American property and seizure of companies. He also argued that, until Cuba becomes a more democratic society, the embargo should remain in place.

“Since this is the first time in more than 50 years that Americans have been able to legally travel to Cuba, I’m really excited for the opportunity,” William said. “I’m looking forward to learning what an ordinary day is like in Cuba, and how the Cuban people live their lives.”

The students will visit a tobacco plantation, a museum about the Cuban revolution and will spend time in the capital city of Havana. Students will take part in lectures, site visits, community service projects, nature hikes and will engage with Cuban high school students.

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High school sophomore William Horner, 16, stands in front a world map at the New America Charter School. Horner is one of several New Mexico students who have been invited to visit Cuba for 10 days in March 2016 after entering an essay contest sponsored by the New Mexico Human Rights Projects.(Photo: Jett Loe / Sun-News)

Raising money

Each student is responsible for coming up with $3,650, which covers round-trip airfare from Albuquerque to Havana, all meals, accommodations, entry visas, medical insurance, guide services and a full program of activities. William, whose family has very limited means, said they cannot afford to contribute much. In an effort to help come up with the money, William recently got a job at Subway.

“Since I come from a low-income family, I have to come up with a way to come up with the money,” William said. “The school has really come together to help me go to Cuba, and that means a lot to me. I want to thank them for all of the help.”

On the day after William found out he was going to Cuba, his mother began making and selling tamales to help raise money for the trip. A private donation of $1,500 has been made toward the cost, and students at New America School have begun organizing fundraisers to help come up with the rest of the money.

“William is in the National Honor Society, and the members of the organization have just thrown their support behind him,” said Roberta Stathis, a history teacher and the faculty advisor for National Honor Society. It was at Stathis’ urging that William submitted an essay. “The students have been selling burritos, quesadillas, bread, tamales and Frito pies — anything to raise money for William’s trip. They’ll be sponsoring a big brisket dinner next week, where they hope to raise $500. They’re doing it because they’re proud of the fact that a New America School student has been afforded this opportunity.”

Outstanding student

“We are so pleased that William chose to come to New America School,” said Principal Margarita Porter. “He’s a wonderful kid, and I’m just so proud of him. He’s also participating in our school’s hygiene drive, to benefit the residents of Camp Hope, and recently went out and secured a $150 donation from Pic Quik. He’s very involved with helping others.”

In addition to National Honor Society, William is involved in several other extracurricular activities.

“I’m also in Student Council, the school book club, and I’m involved in the yearbook,” he said.

According to Regina Turner, founder and executive director of New Mexico Human Rights Projects, 11 students entered the contest, and all were extended the opportunity to go on the trip. Last year, the organization held a contest to send New Mexico students to the Model International Criminal Court in Krzyzowa, Poland. New America School – Las Cruces student Laura Martinez was among the winners of that trip.